Darkstone Code

In the morning, after having breakfast with the warlord, Beigaao instructed someone to lead the warlord to the place where he resides—one of the villas within the villa complex behind Beigaao Manor.

Considering the significant historical importance of the matters to be discussed, Beigaao temporarily requisitioned these villas. This was the first time in decades since he became the Grand President that he used a presidential directive.

He felt somewhat ashamed about it, but the owners of the requisitioned villas expressed their understanding.

After all, only when Mariluo truly stabilizes can a new era be ushered in. As Mariluo citizens or residents here, they also have a responsibility to contribute some of their strength to the cause of unity.

Sitting in his office, Beigaao was signing some documents. Due to the impact of the extreme cold weather, some crops in the North have shifted from being rotated twice a year to only once.

The reduced production of food and tobacco leaves has brought devastating impacts on Mariluo’s economy. In the past, tobacco leaves were considered an economic pillar for Mariluo, occupying over seventy percent of the world’s high-quality tobacco leaf market share with one single country.

But now, with reduced tobacco leaf production and food shortages, many issues have become troublesome.

Beigaao had discussed these issues with some cabinet members of the Central Government. They believe the most important task at the moment is to reduce the planting area of tobacco leaves and increase the planting area of food.

Since tobacco leaves cannot be exported, it’s merely a reduction in revenue.

Aside from symbolic taxes, the income of the local warlords virtually provides no significant tax revenue for the Central Government.

So reductions in tobacco production are not very significant for the Central Government itself. Instead, food production reductions are what shake the very foundations of a country.

Once there’s not enough food, no one knows what hungry Mariluo people will turn this country into!

Bear in mind, under the rule of warlords in these years, every person living in this country can practically pick up a gun and become a qualified warrior!

Hunger can drive people mad; if these warriors all go crazy, it would definitely be a disaster.

He is in contact with the outside world, including the Federation, hoping to import a batch of food from the Federation or other member countries of the World Development Committee to alleviate the current domestic issues.

Of course, this money is paid by the various warlords.

Beigaao once applied to join the World Development Committee, but the Federation believed Mariluo was a divided country that lacked the fundamental conditions to join the World Development Committee, namely a politically and militarily unified and intact government.

This has also led to quite a few difficulties in foreign trade, such as economic crops like tobacco leaves.

But that’s not the major problem now; the major problem is the Federation’s unwillingness to export food to Mariluo. The reason is...

The Grand President, wearing glasses, lifted the document in his hand, slightly moving it further away to see the tiny print on the paper: "The reason is that they don’t have enough to eat themselves..."

Feeling a bit angry and helpless, he set down the document and glanced at his son standing by his side, "But they recently exported a lot of food to other countries, they are turning Nagariel into their main food production base and source of manpower."

"Do you see, this is the unfairness brought by weakness."

Beigaao sighed; the deliberate difficulties posed by the Federation are already very obvious. Even though it is only July now, seemingly everything is fine.

But according to their records over the past two years, once late September arrives, the weather will quickly cool down, which means the upcoming months from October to March of the next year, some five months, Mariluo is not suitable for growing crops!

They have five months during which they cannot obtain a large amount of food from the wild to satisfy people’s consumption. Last year’s winter saw some crises arise; this year’s crisis will be even scarier!

The Federation actually knows the difficulties they’re facing, but they just won’t help. Not only are they unwilling to help, but sometimes they even detain their merchant ships, on the grounds that they suspect these ships of smuggling activities within the Federation’s waters!

Beigaao sat for a while, beginning to ponder ways to solve these problems, but many thoughts had no practical meaning.

He began to write letters, intending to write to the leaders of various countries. Now, whoever is willing to sell food over will forever be Mariluo Government’s friend!

The first letter he wrote with great care, followed by transcriptions, allowing his mind to slightly focus elsewhere, "You should leave, after a few days when we announce these things, you won’t be able to leave."

He spoke to his son, hoping for his son to go live in the Federation. Despite hating his "neighbor," he also knew the Federation would grow increasingly strong.

They are in a state of "awakening," several years ago, five or six years ago, just after the war ended, back then the Federation was like an innocuous young man.

There were often exchanges between them, Beigaao even called their President and had a good conversation about some things.

Back then, the Federation felt very simplistic, reliable, and genuine.

But now... it is growing stronger and more unsettling.

Beigaao has been deeply entangled in the political vortex all his life, unable to extricate himself. He knows that if his son stays in Mariluo, he will eventually become like him.

Wanting to do things but achieving nothing, feeling his weakness and helplessness every day and hating his fragility!

His son remained silent for a moment, "I want to wait until August to leave."

Beigaao’s action of copying stopped for a moment, turning his head to look at his son, his gaze passing through the gap between the glasses frame and his forehead, falling into his son’s eyes.

He stared at him, "Listen to me, if you delay a few days, it will be too late. Although the Federation doesn’t say it, they must regard us as a phase, and a present phase enemy."

"Now you can still go there, maybe you will be monitored, but at least you’re safe."

"Whatever happens in the future, you’re just an ordinary Federation citizen, perhaps with some unique background."

"But staying here, they’ll consider you as a sort of second-in-command opposing their forces, then they’ll know we’re puppets!"

"I’ve never asked you for anything, now I’m asking you, you need to leave!"

Beigaao’s son was silent for a while, realizing that separation was ultimately inevitable, but when it came, it was still somewhat difficult.

He stepped forward to embrace Beigaao, the father and son didn’t speak, hugging for a while before they separated.

"I’ll write back after I arrive..."

Beigaao nodded, "I look forward to that moment."

The young man paused for a moment, said "goodbye," and turned to leave.

Beigaao sat disconsolately in the chair, gazing at the blue sky outside the window. Soon, the butler informed him that his son had already left.

In fact, his son’s wife and child were already in the Federation; Beigaao had early on let them leave.

He knew very well that he would become the most hated target of the Federation people, and keeping his son here to accompany him was foolish!

He stayed dazed for a while, after inquiring whether the last warlord had arrived or if there was any news, he rubbed his wrist and once again immersed himself in work.

Work allowed him to forget these matters, work made him feel full of boundless strength and passion!

In just a few days, he pursed his lips, this country will usher in a new life!

Meanwhile, the Federation’s special operations team had also entered the city.

In the evening, when the "Antenna" responsible for intelligence gathering returned from outside, their expression was somewhat serious.

"What’s wrong?" The Commander was observing the city’s planning map and comparing it with their previous plans for a simple recall.

He glanced at the Antenna, lowered his head briefly, then lifted it again, everyone else’s attention also focused on the Antenna.

The Antenna walked to the edge of the table, pointed at a valley behind the Central Government’s office building, "I learned some news today that Beigaao had already requisitioned this villa cluster two months ago."

"Different forces’ warlords now occupy inside, things are amiss and earlier than our projections!"

The information Sanchez provided was that individuals would start gathering at the end of August, and on August 15th, a series of announcements would be made to the outside world.

But judging from the current situation on the ground, this is evidently incorrect.

The Commander frowned and asked, "How did you come across this information?"

This isn’t questioning his teammate but simply, purely needing to verify again.

Such information relates to the timing and success of the entire plan’s execution. He wouldn’t blindly confirm its authenticity.

The Antenna quickly informed the Commander of his findings in several bars, now you can see personnel from different factions gathering and drinking in local bars everywhere.

The Antenna used the method of "I pay the bill" to chat a few words with some of them, probing that these people had arrived early, and most of the warlords had already assembled, with only a few still missing.

At this kind of moment, even if some hadn’t arrived, it would be enough for them to make decisions!

After listening, the Commander immediately required a report. The encrypted message read "Parrots chatter to death," corresponding to "intelligence error."

A few minutes later, a drunken Sanchez was grabbed by his collar and pushed into a basin full of cold water, instinctively resisting for a moment before someone behind him grabbed his hair and slammed his head into the mirror!

The shattered mirror split the reality, the central blood gradually filling the gaps, followed closely by the second blow!

Two minutes later, a bruised and battered Sanchez was thrown onto the sofa, all the women in the room were chased out.

The Federation’s liaison officer flipped the coffee table, took a chair, and sat directly across from him not far away.

"You lied, Sanchez!"